U.S. patent application number 15/893722 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-14 for intelligent authentication system and electronic key thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to E Ink Holdings Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is E Ink Holdings Inc.. Invention is credited to Chuen-Jen Liu, Jia-Hong Xu.
Application Number | 20180165900 15/893722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62489439 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180165900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xu; Jia-Hong ; et
al. |
June 14, 2018 |
INTELLIGENT AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC KEY THEREOF
Abstract
An intelligent authentication system including an electronic
lock and an electronic key is provided. The electronic key includes
an electronic paper display apparatus. The electronic key is
adapted to perform a two-step authentication with the electronic
lock. The two-step authentication includes the first authentication
step and the second authentication step. The electronic paper
display apparatus is driven after the first authentication step is
passed. And during the second authentication step, the electronic
key performs an authentication operation with the electronic lock
by using the driven electronic paper display apparatus.
Furthermore, an electronic key for the foregoing intelligent
authentication system is also provided.
Inventors: |
Xu; Jia-Hong; (Hsinchu,
TW) ; Liu; Chuen-Jen; (Hsinchu, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
E Ink Holdings Inc. |
Hsinchu |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
E Ink Holdings Inc.
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
62489439 |
Appl. No.: |
15/893722 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14857831 |
Sep 18, 2015 |
|
|
|
15893722 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 3/344 20130101;
G07C 9/00 20130101; G09G 2340/12 20130101; G07C 9/00309 20130101;
G07C 2009/00777 20130101; G07C 2009/0023 20130101; G09G 2358/00
20130101; G07C 2009/00785 20130101; G07C 9/29 20200101; G07C
2009/00412 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G07C 9/00 20060101
G07C009/00; G09G 3/34 20060101 G09G003/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2015 |
TW |
104123815 |
Mar 14, 2017 |
CN |
201710148838.9 |
Claims
1. An intelligent authentication system, comprising: an electronic
lock; and an electronic key, comprising an electronic paper display
apparatus and adapted to perform a two-step authentication, wherein
the two-step authentication comprises a first authentication step
and a second authentication step, wherein the electronic paper
display apparatus is driven after the first authentication step is
passed, and the electronic key performs an authentication operation
with the electronic lock during the second authentication step by
using the driven electronic paper display apparatus.
2. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 1,
wherein the electronic key further comprises: an induction coil
performing another authentication operation through near field
communication (NFC) with the electronic lock during the first
authentication step, wherein the induction coil outputs an
operating electricity power to the electronic paper display
apparatus to drive the electronic paper display apparatus after the
first authentication step is passed.
3. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 1,
wherein the electronic lock comprises an image sensing apparatus,
and the electronic lock performs the authentication operation with
the electronic key by using the image sensing apparatus, wherein
the electronic paper display apparatus alternately displays a first
image and a second image during the second authentication step to
transmit an encrypted signal, and the image sensing apparatus
receives and decodes the encrypted signal during the second
authentication step, so as to obtain information contained in the
encrypted signal to perform the authentication operation.
4. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 3,
wherein the encrypted signal comprises a combination of the first
image and the second image displayed by the electronic paper
display apparatus during the second authentication step.
5. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 3,
wherein the electronic paper display apparatus is driven by a
driving signal comprising a first frequency and a second frequency,
wherein the driving signal of the first frequency drives the
electronic paper display apparatus to transmit an encoded signal
contained in the encrypted signal, and the driving signal of the
second frequency drives the electronic paper display apparatus to
transmit another encoded signal contained in the encrypted signal,
wherein the first frequency is not equal to the second
frequency.
6. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 3,
wherein the electronic paper display apparatus is driven by the
driving signal of a plurality of different frequencies to transmit
one of a plurality of encoded signals contained in the encrypted
signal, wherein the encoded signals transmitted by the electronic
paper display apparatus are determined by a combination of the
different frequencies.
7. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 3,
wherein the image sensing apparatus comprises: an image sensor
configured to receive the encrypted signal and output the encrypted
signal; and a data processor electrically connected to the image
sensor and configured to decode the encrypted signal to obtain
information contained in the encrypted signal.
8. The intelligent authentication system according to claim 7,
wherein the image sensor emits a sensing signal to the electronic
paper display apparatus, and the electronic paper display apparatus
feeds back the sensing signal to the image sensor, such that the
image sensor receives the encrypted signal, wherein the electronic
paper display apparatus displaying the first image absorbs at least
a part of the sensing signal, and the electronic paper display
apparatus displaying the second image reflects at least a part of
the sensing signal.
9. An electronic key adapted to an intelligent authentication
system, the electronic key comprising: an electronic paper display
apparatus, the electronic key being adapted to perform a first
authentication step and a second authentication step with the
intelligent authentication system, wherein the electronic paper
display apparatus is driven after the first authentication step is
passed, and the electronic key performs an authentication operation
with the intelligent authentication system during the second
authentication step by using the driven electronic paper display
apparatus.
10. The electronic key according to claim 9, further comprising: an
induction coil performing another authentication operation through
near field communication (NFC) with the intelligent authentication
system during the first authentication step, wherein the induction
coil outputs an operating electricity power to the electronic paper
display apparatus to drive the electronic paper display apparatus
after the first authentication step is passed.
11. The electronic key according to claim 9, wherein the electronic
paper display apparatus alternately displays a first image and a
second image during the second authentication step for transmitting
an encrypted signal.
12. The electronic key according to claim 11, wherein the encrypted
signal comprises a combination of the first image and the second
image displayed by the electronic paper display apparatus during
the second authentication step.
13. The electronic key according to claim 11, wherein the
electronic paper display apparatus is driven by a driving signal
comprising a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the
driving signal of the first frequency drives the electronic paper
display apparatus to transmit an encoded signal contained in the
encrypted signal, and the driving signal of the second frequency
drives the electronic paper display apparatus to transmit another
encoded signal contained in the encrypted signal, wherein the first
frequency is not equal to the second frequency.
14. The electronic key according to claim 11, wherein the
electronic paper display apparatus is driven by the driving signal
of a plurality of different frequencies to transmit one of a
plurality of encoded signals contained in the encrypted signal,
wherein the encoded signals transmitted by the electronic paper
display apparatus are determined by a combination of the different
frequencies.
15. The electronic key according to claim 11, wherein the image
sensing apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to receive
the encrypted signal and output the encrypted signal; and a data
processor electrically connected to the image sensor and configured
to decode the encrypted signal to obtain information contained in
the encrypted signal.
16. The electronic key according to claim 15, wherein the image
sensor emits a sensing signal to the electronic paper display
apparatus, and the electronic paper display apparatus feeds back
the sensing signal to the image sensor, such that the image sensor
receives the encrypted signal, wherein the electronic paper display
apparatus displaying the first image absorbs at least a part of the
sensing signal, and the electronic paper display apparatus
displaying the second image reflects at least a part of the sensing
signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
and claims the priority benefit of a prior application Ser. No.
14/857,831, filed on Sep. 18, 2015, now pending. The prior
application Ser. No. 14/857,831 claims the priority benefit of
Taiwan application serial no. 104123815, filed on July 23, 2015.
This application also claims the priority benefit of China
application serial no. 201710148838.9, filed on Mar. 14, 2017. The
entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby
incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an intelligent authentication
system and an electronic key thereof and particularly relates to an
intelligent authentication system and an electronic key of the
intelligent authentication system which transmits an encrypted
signal through an electronic paper display apparatus.
Description of Related Art
[0003] An electronic paper display apparatus is a new type of
display apparatus, which has features of high color contrast, high
resolution, small power consumption, low manufacturing cost, etc.
In recent years, since display apparatuses are gradually developed
towards a trend of light and slim, the electronic paper display
apparatus becomes a display apparatus meeting the needs of the
public. Since the electronic paper display apparatus has the
advantages of light, slim, durable in use and low power consumption
in line with energy saving and environmental protection, etc., the
electronic paper display apparatus has been widely applied in
electronic readers (for example, electronic books, electronic
newspapers) or other electronic components (for example, electronic
tags). In the application field of the electronic tag, one of the
most commonly used recognition techniques is a radio frequency
identification (RFID) technique.
[0004] By combining the RFID technique with an integrated circuit
(IC) chip, a read device or a read-write device may be used to read
information of the IC chip through a wireless manner. However,
regarding some IC chips required to be kept confidential,
confidential information stored therein are probably analyzed and
duplicated without permission.
[0005] Commonly used intelligent electronic locks include
combination locks as well as locks using recognition techniques,
such as near field communication (NFC), radio frequency
identification (RFID), Bluetooth identification, biometric features
recognition, and so forth. It is possible for the information
exchanged through NFC, RFID, or Bluetooth identification to be
stolen or be decoded during communication because the signals are
in an open field. As for biometric features recognition,
misjudgment is likely to occur, and thus the stability of such a
technique has been continuously challenged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the above, embodiments of the invention provide
an intelligent authentication system and an electronic key thereof
The intelligent authentication system transmits an encrypted signal
through an electronic paper display apparatus, so as to perform an
authentication operation between an electronic lock and the
electronic key.
[0007] An embodiment of the invention provides an intelligent
authentication system that includes an electronic lock and an
electronic key. The electronic key includes the electronic paper
display apparatus. The electronic key and the electronic lock
perform a two-step authentication. The two-step authentication
includes a first authentication step and a second authentication
step. The electronic paper display apparatus is driven after the
first authentication step is passed. The electronic key performs an
authentication operation with the electronic lock during the second
authentication step by using the driven electronic paper display
apparatus.
[0008] In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic key
further includes an induction coil. The induction coil performs
another authentication operation with the electronic lock during
the first authentication step through near field communication
(NFC). The induction coil outputs an operating electricity power to
the electronic paper display apparatus to drive the electronic
paper display apparatus after the first authentication step is
passed.
[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic lock
includes an image sensing apparatus. The electronic lock performs
an authentication operation with the electronic key by using the
image sensing apparatus. The electronic paper display apparatus
alternately displays a first image and a second image during the
second authentication step, so as to transmit an encrypted signal.
The image sensing apparatus receives and decodes the encrypted
signal during the second authentication step, so as to obtain an
information contained in the encrypted signal to perform the
authentication operation.
[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, the encrypted signal
includes a combination of the first image and the second image
displayed by the electronic paper display apparatus during the
second authentication step.
[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic paper
display apparatus is driven by a driving signal. The driving signal
includes a first frequency and a second frequency. The driving
signal of the first frequency drives the electronic paper display
apparatus to transmit an encoded signal contained in the encrypted
signal. The driving signal of the second frequency drives the
electronic paper display apparatus to transmit another encoded
signal contained in the encrypted signal. The first frequency is
not equal to the second frequency.
[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic paper
display apparatus is driven by a driving signal of a plurality of
different frequencies to transmit one of a plurality of encoded
signals contained in the encrypted signal. The encoded signals
transmitted by the electronic paper display apparatus are
determined by a combination of the different frequencies.
[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, the image sensing
apparatus includes an image sensor and a data processor. The image
sensor is configured to receive and output an encrypted signal. The
data processor is electrically connected to the image sensor and
configured to decode the encrypted signal, so as to obtain
information contained in the encrypted signal.
[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the image sensor emits a
sensing signal to the electronic paper display apparatus. The
electronic paper display apparatus feeds back the sensing signal to
the image sensor, such that the image sensor receives the encrypted
signal. The electronic paper display apparatus displaying the first
image absorbs at least a part of the sensing signal. The electronic
paper display apparatus displaying the second image reflects at
least a part of the sensing signal.
[0015] An embodiment of the invention provides an electronic key
adapted to an intelligent authentication system as above
mentioned.
[0016] Based on the above, the intelligent electronic lock provided
in the embodiment of the invention is the intelligent
authentication system having the electronic paper display
apparatus. The intelligent authentication system alternately
displays different images by using the electronic paper display
apparatus, so as to encrypt to-be-transmitted information in the
images alternately displayed and transmit the encrypted signal. The
security in authentication is thereby increased.
[0017] In order to make the aforementioned and other features and
advantages of the invention comprehensible, several exemplary
embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic paper display
apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation that
an electronic paper display panel is driven by a driving signal to
display a first image according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation that
an electronic paper display panel is driven by a driving signal to
display a second image according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3A is a waveform schematic diagram of a driving signal
corresponding to an encoded signal according to an embodiment of
the invention.
[0023] FIG. 3B is a waveform schematic diagram of a driving signal
corresponding to an encoded signal according to another embodiment
of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a signal transmission
system according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a signal transmission
method according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of display
regions of an electronic paper display panel according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an intelligent
authentication system according to an embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to
the same or like parts.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic paper display
apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to
FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the electronic paper display
apparatus 100 includes an electronic paper display panel 110 and a
display driver 120. The electronic paper display panel 110 is
driven by the display driver 120, and is configured to display a
first image or a second image. In the present embodiment of the
invention, in the electronic paper display panel 110, black display
particles and white display particles are respectively taken as
display media. In the present embodiment, a black image and a white
image displayed by the electronic paper display panel 110 are taken
as the first image and the second image for description, though the
invention is not limited thereto.
[0030] In the present embodiment, the display driver 120 is
electrically connected to the electronic paper display panel 110,
and is configured to output a driving signal DS to the electronic
paper display panel 110. In the present embodiment, the display
driver 120 may be configured with a signal generator, and the
signal generator generates an internal signal to the display driver
120, such that the display driver 120 outputs the driving signal DS
to the electronic paper display panel 110. In an embodiment, the
display driver 120 may also receive an external signal, and outputs
the driving signal
[0031] DS to the electronic paper display panel 110 according to
the received external signal. The method that the display driver
120 generates and outputs the driving signal DS is not limited by
the invention. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the display
driver 120 drives the electronic paper display panel 110 to
alternately display the first image and the second image to
transmit an encrypted signal by using the driving signal DS during
a signal transmission period.
[0032] To be specific, in the present embodiment, the driving
signal DS includes a first signal level V1 and a second signal
level V2, as shown in FIG. 1, though the invention is not limited
thereto. The display driver 120 drives the electronic paper display
panel 110 to display the first image by using the driving signal DS
of the first signal level V1. Moreover, the display driver 120
drives the electronic paper display panel 110 to display the second
image by using the driving signal DS of the second signal level
V2.
[0033] In detail, in the electronic paper display panel 110 of the
present embodiment, since the black display particles and the white
display particles are taken as the display media, when the
electronic paper display panel 110 is subjected to a negative
electric field, it displays a white image, and when the electronic
paper display panel 110 is subjected to a positive electric field,
it displays a black image. Therefore, the driving signal DS of the
present embodiment includes the first signal level V1 and the
second signal level V2, where the first signal level V1 is higher
than the second signal level V2, though the invention is not
limited thereto. In this way, the display driver 120 may drive the
electronic paper display panel 110 to display the first image (i.e.
the black image) by using the first signal level V1 with the
positive electric field, and drive the electronic paper display
panel 110 to display the second image (i.e. the white image) by
using the second signal level V2 with the negative electric
field.
[0034] In other words, the electronic paper display panel 110 of
the present embodiment may be driven by the driving signals of
different signal levels to display the corresponding images, and
referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B for detailed descriptions thereof,
FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation that the
electronic paper display panel 110 is driven by the driving signal
DS to display the first image according to an embodiment of the
invention, and FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating a
situation that the electronic paper display panel 110 is driven by
the driving signal DS to display the second image according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0035] Namely, since the electronic paper display panel 110 may be
driven by the driving signal DS of different signal levels to
display the corresponding images, when the driving signal DS output
by the display driver 120 has a signal waveform composed of a
series of the first signal levels V1 and the second signal levels
V2 (shown as the driving signal DS of FIG. 1), the electronic paper
display panel 110 may alternately display the first image and the
second image according to the first signal level V1 and the second
signal level V2 of the driving signal DS. Therefore, the electronic
paper display apparatus 100 may transmit signals based on the
characteristic that the electronic paper display panel 110 may be
driven by the driving signal DS of different signal levels to
display the corresponding images.
[0036] It should be noted that since the electronic paper display
panel 110 has an image switching speed of a millisecond level, the
image switching speed thereof is very fast. Therefore, when the
electronic paper display panel 110 transmits a signal by switching
different images, such signal is hard to be duplicated and stolen.
Besides, the display driver 120 of the present embodiment may
further perform an encoding process to the received internal signal
or external signal, so as to output the encoded driving signal DS.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the driving signal DS
contains an encrypted signal to be transmitted by the electronic
paper display panel 110. In this way, during the signal
transmission period, and driven by the driving signal DS, a
combination of the first image and the second image displayed by
the electronic paper display panel 110 includes the encrypted
signal, such that the electronic paper display apparatus 100 may
transmit the encrypted signal by using the electronic paper display
panel 110 to alternately display the first image and the second
image, so as to greatly improve security of the signal
transmission.
[0037] Regarding the aforementioned encoding process, the display
driver 120 may define an encoding method thereof according to
different requirements, for example, the display driver 120 may
encode the internal signal or the received external signal
according to a time length, a frequency or a specific encoding rule
(for example, according to the rule of the Moss code), so as to
encrypt the internal or external signal to generate the driving
signal DS containing the encrypted signal, though the invention is
not limited to the above encoding method.
[0038] In an embodiment, the encoding method adopted by the
electronic paper display apparatus 100 is, for example, to define
different encoded signals according to a magnitude of the
frequency. In the present embodiment, the display driver 120 drives
the electronic paper display panel 110 by using the driving signal
DS of a first frequency, such that the electronic paper display
panel 110 transmits an encoded signal in the encrypted signal. The
display driver 120 drives the electronic paper display panel 110 by
using the driving signal DS of a second frequency, such that the
electronic paper display panel 110 transmits another encoded signal
in the encrypted signal. In the present embodiment, the first
frequency is not equal to the second frequency.
[0039] FIG. 3A is a waveform schematic diagram of a driving signal
corresponding to the encoded signal according to an embodiment of
the invention. Referring to FIG. 3A, for example, in the present
embodiment, the display driver 120 drives the electronic paper
display panel 110 by using the driving signal DS of different
frequencies, so as to encrypt different signals to be transmitted,
for example, a signal 0 and a signal 1. In the present embodiment,
regarding the driving signal DS of the first frequency f1, the
encoded signal thereof, for example, represents the signal 0, and
regarding the driving signal DS of the second frequency f2, the
encoded signal thereof, for example, represents the signal 1. In
the present embodiment, the first frequency f1 is not equal to the
second frequency f2. In this way, during a signal transmission
period T1, the driving signal DS of the first frequency f1 is
switched between the first signal level and the second signal
level, and the electronic paper display panel 110 driven by the
driving signal DS alternately displays the first image and the
second image in the first frequency f1, to as to transmit the
signal 0 in the encrypted signal. In the present embodiment, during
a signal transmission period T2, the driving signal DS of the
second frequency f2 is switched between the first signal level and
the second signal level, and the electronic paper display panel 110
driven by the driving signal DS alternately displays the first
image and the second image in the second frequency f2, to as to
transmit the signal 1 in the encrypted signal. The waveform and the
corresponding encoded signal of the driving signal DS shown in FIG.
3A are only an example, and the invention is not limited thereto.
In other embodiments, the electronic paper display apparatus 100
may respectively encrypt numbers, English letters or other symbols
to be transmitted according to different frequencies, which is not
limited by the invention.
[0040] In another embodiment of the invention, the display driver
120 drives the electronic paper display panel 110 by using the
display signal DS of a plurality of different frequencies, such
that the electronic paper display panel 110 transmits one of a
plurality of encoded signals in the encrypted signal. In the
present exemplary embodiment, the encoded signals transmitted by
the electronic paper display panel 110 are determined according to
combinations of different frequencies.
[0041] For example, FIG. 3B is a waveform schematic diagram of a
driving signal corresponding to the encoded signal according to
another embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, the
display driver 120 drives the electronic paper display panel 110 by
using the driving signal DS having different frequency
combinations, so as to encrypt different signals to be transmitted,
for example, English letters A and B. Referring to FIG. 3B, in the
present embodiment, during a signal transmission period T3, the
frequency of the driving signal DS is changed from the first
frequency f1 to the second frequency f2, and the encoded signal
formed by a combination thereof, for example, represents the
English letter A. During a signal transmission period T4, the
frequency of the driving signal DS is changed from the first
frequency f1 to the second frequency f2, and is again changed from
the second frequency f2 to the first frequency f1, and the encoded
signal formed by a combination thereof, for example, represents the
English letter B. In the present embodiment, the first frequency f1
is also different to the second frequency f2. Therefore, the
electronic paper display panel 110 driven by the driving signal DS
may switch the displayed images according to a changing sequence of
the first frequency f1 and the second frequency f2, so as to
transmit the English letters A and B in the encrypted signal. The
waveform and the corresponding encoded signal of the driving signal
DS shown in FIG. 3B are only an example, and the invention is not
limited thereto. In other embodiments, the electronic paper display
apparatus 100 may respectively encrypt numbers, English letters or
other symbols to be transmitted according to combinations of more
different frequencies, which is not limited by the invention.
[0042] In the present embodiment, the electronic paper display
apparatus may first encode the internal signal or the received
external signal to generate the driving signal containing the
encrypted signal. Then, the electronic paper display panel may be
driven by the driving signal of different signal levels to display
the corresponding images. In this way, the electronic paper display
apparatus may alternately display different images to transmit the
encrypted signal during the signal transmission period. Therefore,
confidentiality and security of the signal transmission are
enhanced.
[0043] On the other hand, by using the aforementioned electronic
paper display apparatus and the signal transmission method thereof,
if the transmitted encrypted signal is required to be read out, an
image sensing apparatus may be configured to sense the images
displayed by the electronic paper display apparatus 100, so as to
decode the encrypted signal. In the following embodiment, a
structure of a signal transmission system having the electronic
paper display apparatus is further illustrated.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a signal transmission
system according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to
FIG. 4, the signal transmission system 400 of FIG. 4 includes an
electronic paper display apparatus 410 and an image sensing
apparatus 420. Description of the electronic paper display
apparatus 410 and the electronic paper display panel 412, the
display driver 414 and the driving signal DS thereof may be deduced
by referring to related description of the electronic paper display
apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 and the electronic paper display panel 110,
the display driver 120 and the driving signal DS thereof, and
details thereof are not repeated.
[0045] In the present embodiment, the image sensing apparatus 420
is configured to receive and decode an encrypted signal transmitted
by the electronic paper display apparatus 410, so as to obtain an
information contained in the encrypted signal. In the present
embodiment, the image sensing apparatus 420 includes an image
sensor 422 and a data processor 424. The image sensor 422 may be
implemented by an infrared sensing device, a charge coupled device
(CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), which is
not limited by the invention. The image sensor 422 is configured to
receive the encrypted signal transmitted by the electronic paper
display apparatus 410, and output the encrypted signal to the post
data processor 424.
[0046] In the present embodiment, the data processor 424 is
electrically connected to the image sensor 422, and is configured
to decode the encrypted signal to obtain the information included
in the encrypted signal. The data processor 424 is, for example, a
central processing unit (CPU), or other programmable general
purpose or special purpose microprocessor, a digital signal
processor (DSP), a programmable controller, application specific
integrated circuits (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) or
other similar devices or a combination of these devices, which is
not limited by the invention. An embodiment is provided below to
describe detailed steps of a signal transmission method below.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a signal transmission
method according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to
FIG. 5, the signal transmission method of the present embodiment is
at least adapted to the electronic paper display apparatus 410 and
the image sensing apparatus 420 of FIG. 4. Detailed steps of the
signal transmission method of the present embodiment are described
below with reference of the electronic paper display apparatus 410
and the image sensing apparatus 420.
[0048] First, in step S510, at the emitting end, the display driver
414 drives the electronic paper display panel 412 of the electronic
paper display apparatus 410 to alternately display the first image
and the second image during the signal transmission period, so as
to transmit the encrypted signal. In the present embodiment,
similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the electronic paper display
panel 412 also adopts the black display particles and the white
display particles to serve as display media, though the invention
is not limited thereto. During the signal transmission period, the
electronic paper display apparatus 410 may alternately display the
first image constructed by, for example, the black display
particles and the second image constructed by, for example, the
white display particles to transmit the encrypted signal.
[0049] In step S520, at the receiving end, the signal transmission
system 400 receives and decodes the encrypted signal by using the
image sensing apparatus 420, so as to obtain the information
included in the encrypted signal. In the present embodiment, the
image sensor 422 of the image sensing apparatus 420, for example,
emits a sensing signal to the electronic paper display apparatus
410, and the electronic paper display apparatus 410 feeds back the
sensing signal to the image sensor 422 to make the image sensor 422
to receive the encrypted signal. It should be noted that the
electronic paper display apparatus 410 displaying the first image
absorbs at least a part of the sensing signal, and the electronic
paper display apparatus 410 displaying the second image reflects at
least a part of the sensing signal.
[0050] Generally, when the infrared sensing device senses the image
displayed by the electronic paper display apparatus, a black part
of the image may absorb an infrared ray (the sensing signal)
emitted by the infrared sensing device, and a white part of the
image may reflect the infrared ray (the sensing signal) emitted by
the infrared sensing device. In the present embodiment, the
infrared sensing device is, for example, adopted to serve as the
image sensor 422, though the invention is not limited thereto. In
this case, while the electronic paper display apparatus 410
alternately displays the first image constructed by the black
display particles and the second image constructed by the white
display particles, the infrared sensing device emits the infrared
ray to the electronic paper display apparatus 410 to dynamically
sense the encrypted signal transmitted by the electronic paper
display apparatus 410. In this way, the electronic paper display
apparatus 410 displaying the first image (black image) may absorb
at least a part of the infrared ray, and the electronic paper
display apparatus 410 displaying the second image (white image) may
reflect at least a part of the infrared ray, such that the infrared
sensing device may sense the encrypted signal transmitted by the
images displayed by the electronic paper display apparatus 410
according to the feedback sensing signal.
[0051] Then, after the image sensor 422 receives the encrypted
signal, the image sensor 422 transmits the encrypted signal to the
data processor 424 for decoding. The data processor 424 may analyze
the images of the electronic paper display apparatus 410 according
to the encrypted signal transmitted by the image sensor and the
corresponding encoding method (for example, the encoded signal with
different frequencies or a combination thereof, though the
invention is not limited thereto), so as to obtain information DD
included in the encrypted signal. It should be noted that the
encrypted signal transmitted through the signal transmission system
400 may be further encrypted in advance by using at least one
algorithm. The image sensor 422, for example, has a corresponding
post-end processing algorithm to decode the encrypted signal, so as
to obtain the information DD included in the encrypted signal. In
this way, the encrypted signal transmitted by the electronic paper
display apparatus 410 is not only hard to be duplicated and stolen,
a plurality of security measures may be adopted to enhance security
of the signal transmission.
[0052] In brief, according to the signal transmission system and
the method thereof of the invention, the transmitting end may
transmit the encrypted signal through the measure that the
electronic paper display apparatus alternately displays the first
image and the second image. At the receiving end, an infrared
sensing device may be adopted to sense the images alternately
displayed by the electronic paper display apparatus, so as to
receive the encrypted signal. Then, the data processor is
configured to decode the encrypted signal to obtain the information
included in the encrypted signal. In this way, not only the
encrypted signal transmitted by the electronic paper display
apparatus 410 is hard to be duplicated and stolen, a plurality of
security measures may be adopted to enhance security of the signal
transmission.
[0053] Besides, in the other embodiments of the invention, the
electronic paper display panels 110 and 412 may also transmit the
encrypted signal through a method different to the aforementioned
display method. For example, the electronic paper display panel 412
may further include a plurality of display regions, and the display
driver 414 drives each of the display regions of the electronic
paper display panel 410 to alternately display the first image and
the second image by using the driving signal DS, such that the
electronic paper display panel transmit one of a plurality of
encoded signal in the encrypted signal. The encoded signals
transmitted by the electronic paper display panel 410 are, for
example, determined according to combinations of the first image
and the second image displayed by the display regions. Moreover,
since enough instructions and recommendations for the signal
transmission method and the panel driving method of the electronic
paper display apparatus 410 of the present exemplary embodiment may
be learned from the descriptions of the embodiments of FIG. 1 to
FIG. 3, detailed description thereof is not repeated.
[0054] To be specific, referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a schematic
diagram of a plurality of display regions of an electronic paper
display panel according to an embodiment of the invention. In the
present embodiment, the electronic paper display panel 610 includes
a plurality of display regions A1, A2, A3 and A4. The electronic
paper display panel 610 is driven by the driving signal DS to make
each of the display regions A1, A2, A3 and A4 to respectively
display the first image and the second image. For example, when the
display regions A1 and A4 display the first image, and the display
region A2 and A3 display the second image, a combination of the
images may correspond to one of a plurality of encoded signals, and
the encoded signals may be defined by the user, as shown in FIG. 6,
though the invention is not limited thereto. In this way, the
electronic paper display panel 610 of the present embodiment may
produce more types of the encoded signal through combinations of
the first image and the second image displayed by each of the
display regions. Not only such encoded signal may be defined by the
user, the electronic paper display panel 610 may also quickly
switch the images to enhance security and confidentiality to
transmit the encrypted signal. Moreover, since enough instructions
and recommendations for the electronic paper display panel, the
signal transmission method thereof and the panel driving method
thereof provided by the exemplary embodiment of the invention may
be learned from the descriptions of the embodiments of FIG. 1 to
FIG. 5, detailed descriptions thereof are not repeated.
[0055] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an intelligent
authentication system according to an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, an intelligent
authentication system 700 includes an electronic lock 710 and an
electronic key 720. The electronic lock 710 includes an electronic
lock induction coil 712 and an image sensing apparatus 714. The
electronic key 720 includes an induction coil 722 and an electronic
paper display apparatus 724. The electronic lock induction coil 712
arranged in the electronic lock 710 and the induction coil 722
arranged onto the electronic key 720 are configured to perform the
first authentication step. The induction coil 722 arranged onto the
electronic key 720 is coupled to the electronic paper display
apparatus 724. When the induction coil 722 is applied in the first
authentication step, the induction coil 722 transmits an operating
electricity power OP to the electronic paper display apparatus 724,
such that the electronic paper display apparatus 724 displays an
encoded and encrypted message. The image sensing apparatus 714
arranged in the electronic lock 710 receives and decodes an
encrypted message displayed by the electronic paper display
apparatus 724 during the second authentication step. An
authentication method of the intelligent authentication system 700
in the embodiment of the invention is described below in
detail.
[0056] In the embodiment of the invention, during an authentication
period of the electronic key 720 and the electronic lock 710, the
electronic lock induction coil 712 arranged in the electronic lock
710 transmits an authentication message to the induction coil 722
on the electronic key 720 to perform a first authentication step.
Authentications of the electronic lock 710 and the electronic key
720 may be performed through near field communication (NFC), radio
frequency identification (RFID), or other techniques during the
first authentication step. After the first authentication step is
passed, the electronic lock induction coil 712 transmits the
operating electricity power OP to the induction coil 722 on the
electronic key 720. The operating electricity power OP is
configured to drive the electronic paper display apparatus 724
arranged onto the electronic key 720. If the first authentication
step is not passed, the electronic lock induction coil 712 does not
transmit the operating electricity power OP to the induction coil
722 on the electronic key 720. In other words, the electronic lock
710 denies a request of the electronic key 720 for the first
authentication step.
[0057] In other embodiments of the invention, the electronic key
720 may include a battery. When a first authentication step is
passed, the electronic lock 710 provides a controlling signal to
the electronic key 720, such that the operating electricity power
OP in the battery of the electronic key 720 drives the electronic
paper display apparatus 724.
[0058] In some embodiments of the invention, an electronic key 720
may be in contact with a surface of the electronic lock 710. During
the period when the electronic key 720 and the electronic lock 710
contact each other, the electronic lock induction coil 712
transmits an authentication signal to the induction coil 722 to
perform a recognition of a first authentication step. In some
embodiments, the electronic key 720 may be close to but does not
directly contact the surface of the electronic lock 710. During the
period when the electronic key 720 is close to but does not contact
the electronic lock 710, the electronic lock induction coil 712
transmits an authentication signal to the induction coil 722 to
perform a recognition of the first authentication step. In some
embodiments, the electronic lock 710 has a pinhole, and the
electronic lock induction coil 712 is arranged in the pinhole of
the electronic lock 710. During the period when the electronic key
720 is inserted into the pinhole of the electronic lock 710, the
electronic lock induction coil 712 transmits an authentication
signal to the induction coil 722 to perform a recognition of the
first authentication step.
[0059] In some embodiments of the invention, the electronic lock
710 may provide a warning sound or a warning signal when the
electronic key 720 fails to pass the first authentication step, so
as to notify a user possessing the electronic key 720 of the fact
that the first authentication step is not passed.
[0060] Please refer to FIG. 7. In the embodiment of the invention,
after the electronic paper display apparatus 724 arranged onto the
electronic key 720 is driven, the electronic paper display
apparatus 724 alternately displays a plurality of encoded signals
generated by combining the first image and the second image during
the second authentication step, so as to transmit an encrypted
signal ES. The encrypted signal ES is set by a user, for instance,
a password or an identification code and is then encoded and
encrypted. In some embodiments, the user may perform an information
setting process on the electronic lock 710. After the setting
process, the electronic lock 710 performs an encoding and
encrypting operation on the information set by the user through
performing an encoding method determined by a system or the user,
so as to convert the information into an encrypted signal ES.
Afterwards, near field communication (NFC), radio frequency
identification (RFID), or other techniques may be applied to
transmit the encrypted signal ES generated by the electronic lock
710 to the electronic key 720 which passes the first authentication
step and the second authentication step. In some embodiments, the
electronic key 710 that passes the first authentication step and
the second authentication step may obtain a driving signal
containing the encrypted signal ES through contacting an electronic
lock 720. In some embodiments, the electronic key 710 that passes
the first authentication step and the second authentication step
may obtain a driving signal containing the encrypted signal ES
through approaching but not contacting the electronic lock 720. In
some embodiments, the electronic lock 710 has a pinhole, and the
electronic lock induction coil 712 is arranged in the pinhole of
the electronic lock 710. During the period when the electronic key
720 is inserted into the pinhole of the electronic lock 710, the
electronic key 720 that passes the first authentication step and
the second authentication step may be inserted into the pinhole of
the electronic lock 710, so as obtain a driving signal containing
the encrypted signal ES.
[0061] In some embodiments of the invention, an electronic paper
display apparatus 724 may have an encoding function to encode an
internal signal or a received external signal. In other words, the
electronic paper display apparatus 724 is capable of encoding a
signal set by a user and received by the electronic key 720 or
encoding a signal (e.g., a password or an identification code)
stored in an electronic lock 710 to generate the encrypted signal
ES. However, the invention is not limited thereto.
[0062] In some embodiments of the invention, a user may set an
information, e.g., a password or an identification code, on a
mobile phone, a computer, or an information-processing interface.
The user may then send the information to the electronic lock 710
through wireless transmission, Bluetooth, radio frequency
identification (RFID), or near field communication (NFC), such that
the electronic lock 710 transmits the information to the electronic
key 720 that is able to pass the first authentication step and the
second authentication step through a transmission between the
electronic lock induction coil 712 and the induction coil 722.
However, the invention is not limited thereto.
[0063] In some embodiments of the invention, the electronic paper
display apparatus 724 arranged onto the electronic key 720 is
capable of increasing the complexity of a password or an encoding
method to receive a more complex encrypted signal ES and display a
more complex combination of encoded signals ES according to a
resolution of the electronic paper display apparatus 724 itself. In
some embodiments, the electronic paper display apparatus 724 may
further choose to switch between a plurality of encoded signals
during the second authentication step. An encoded signal containing
the encrypted signal ES is thus displayed dynamically, and the
complexity of displaying the encrypted signal ES is further
improved. In other words, the intelligent authentication system 700
is capable of increasing the complexity of setting and encoding the
encrypted signal ES according to a high image resolution and a high
image-switching speed of the electronic paper display apparatus
710. Thereby, the security of signal transmission in the
intelligent authentication system 700 during the second
authentication step is further improved.
[0064] Please refer to FIG. 7. In the embodiment of the invention,
the image sensing apparatus 714 arranged on the electronic lock 710
includes an image sensor 715 and a data processor 717. The image
sensor 715 is configured to receive the encrypted signal ES from
the electronic paper display apparatus 724 and output the encrypted
signal ES to the data processor 717 during the second
authentication step. The data processor 717 is configured to decode
the encrypted signal ES received from the image sensor 715, so as
to obtain an information, for example a password or an
identification code, included in the encrypted signal ES before the
encoding process and the encrypting process are performed. The data
processor 717 compares the information obtained after decoding with
the information stored in the electronic lock 710. If the
information obtained by the data processor 717 through decoding
matches the information stored in the electronic lock 710, it
indicates that the electronic key 720 requesting for authentication
passes the first authentication step and the second authentication
step, and the data processor 717 opens the electronic lock 710. If
the electronic key 720 fails to pass the second authentication
step, the electronic lock 710 is not opened. In other words, the
electronic lock 710 denies a request from the electronic key 720
for performing the second authentication step. In some embodiments,
the image sensing apparatus 714 may be arranged in the pinhole of
the electronic lock 710 or on a surface of the electronic lock 710
according to an authentication method between the electronic lock
710 and the electronic key 720, whereas the invention is not
limited thereto. Moreover, since the electronic paper display
panel, the signal transmission thereof, and the panel driving
method in the present embodiment have been sufficiently taught and
suggested by the descriptions in the embodiments depicted in FIG. 1
to FIG. 6, no further explanation is provided hereinafter.
[0065] In some embodiments of the invention, the electronic lock
710 may provide a warning sound or a warning signal if the
electronic key 720 does not pass the second authentication step, so
as to notify a user possessing the electronic key 720 of the fact
that the second authentication step is not passed.
[0066] When the electronic key 720 requesting for authentication
passes the first authentication step and the second authentication
step, the image on the electronic paper display apparatus 724 is
replaced with a pre-determined reset image according to an
internally pre-determined reset signal. The pre-determined reset
signal may also be set by the user, which should not be construed
as a limitation to the invention.
[0067] To sum up, the driving signal of the intelligent
authentication system provided in the embodiments of the invention
includes a password or an identification code to be transmitted, so
as to drive the electronic paper display panel to quickly and
alternately display different images during a signal transmission
period for transmitting an encrypted signal. When the electronic
paper display apparatus switches the display images, the image
sensing apparatus senses the images alternately displayed by the
electronic paper display apparatus to receive and decode the
encrypted signal and thereby obtain the information included in the
encrypted signal. Moreover, the electronic paper display panel may
further include a plurality of display regions to generate the
encoded signals of more varieties. As a result, it is rather
difficult to duplicate and steal the encrypted signal transmitted
through the electronic paper display apparatus, and the security of
signal transmission may be further improved through taking the
security measures of performing a plurality of authentication
steps.
[0068] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations may be made to the structure of the
invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
invention cover modifications and variations of this invention
provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *